Sunday, August 31, 2014

Kam Lai Heen 金麗軒 - [ Macau ]

 Kam Lai Heen 金麗軒 is related to the previously,  Michelin 1 Starred 東怡軒 Tung Yee Heen,  as they occupied the same Restaurant Space but are now under a different Hotel Group’s Management.  Stanley Ho bought over this ex-Mandarin Oriental Hotel space to convert it into Grand Lapa Hotel and Resort.  The previously Michelin starred chef from Tung Yee Heen has now retired but his supporting Chef and now new Head Chef here at Kam Lai Heen has already worked for more than 20 years in the same restaurant,  and the food remained every bit as creative with excellent execution.   From a Foodie’s perspective,  the recipes here were unique and cooked so well indeed.  Definitely worth re-evaluating!

 

 

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Sweated Peanuts,  XO Sauce,  Caramelized Walnuts -
The hotel obviously advertises that these are the best versions available.  The Walnuts were fresh and crunchy and prepared as small batches to stay fresh,  very lovely.  The XO sauce was packed with flavors but could do with more dried prawns.  The wet soaked peanuts were just as I remembered them to be and traditional…   ~  8/10

 



 

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Siu Mai Dumpling,  Prawn & Bamboo Shoot Dumpling, 
Seafood Mayonnaise roll in Paper Roll with Almond,  Seaweed Roll with Stuffed Cuttlefish -
The Prawn Ha Gao dumpling was done superbly with crunchy bamboo shoots,  a really hard to discover versions these days.  The Siu Mai was passable as there wasn’t enough pork meat and flavor.   The stand out was definitely the Seafood Rice Paper Almond roll – this is a twist on a classic Cantonese dish which is absent from most recent Dim Sum places,  but can still be found overseas in Canada or Australia from that epoch of Immigrants.   The Seaweed and Calamari roll was also rare to find and inventive.   3 of the 4 items were impressive indeed.   ~  7 to 9/10

 




 

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Seafood Mayonnaise roll in Paper Roll with Almond
Very impressive Dim Sum item and with many layerings in preparation within..








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Braised Abalone and Crab Meat Conpoy Dumpling,  in Superior Broth -
This was interesting.  The Abalone didn’t seem braised enough in a sauce and slightly whitish.   The other Crab Meat and Conpoy dumpling was much more interesting with it’s elastic skin,  which was kind of 魚皮餃 like in the chewy texture…   I definitely really enjoyed the latter and it’s topped with fish roes and served with a great stock reduction sauce.   ~  8/10

 

 




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Deep Fried Prawn with Mango,  Trio Colored Peppers Sprigs,  and Sweet & Chili Sauce -
The prawn was massive,  the sauce was like a Thai Nam Jim sauce but home made.  What impressed me the most was that this was filled inside with 3 different colored Peppers and tasted as good as it looked appealing.   It’s a recipe you can’t easily find on Hong Kong side.   ~  8/10

 

 


 

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Wok Fried Beef Tenderloin,  with Garlic Chips and Peppercorn -
Probably my less favorite dish of the day.  The Beef were sliced and diced a bit into too small pieces,  meaning they were thoroughly cooked-through,  although still tender but missing beef juiciness.   The presentation was awesome but I really think the Beef could be butchered up as much bigger squarish pieces to make this exceptional.  ~  6/10





 

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Steamed Silver Cod Filet with Snow Fungus Mushroom in mini Bamboo Basket -
This was said to be one of their signature dishes.   This was steamed perfectly and the Silver Cod fish was both oily and succulent,  and the biggest surprise was the way the Snow Fungus was carved up so thickly.   Cooked really well.  ~  9/10



 


 

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Stir-fried Carrots,  Water Chestnuts,  Mushrooms and Macadamia nuts in Birds Nest, 
with Seafood Pine Nuts Fried Rice -  
Another yet inventive but sensible dish,  the fried Bird’s nest was sad to be likable by the Children who patron this hotel,  but at the same time they tried to keep the grease down and be more healthy.  This was the end result.  The nuts and water chestnuts gave it a crunchy texture.   ~  7/10

 


 

 

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Ginseng and Rose Petal flavoured soup,  with Glutinous Rice Balls -
The smell of the Ginseng was quite strong indeed,  but I much prefer this than it’s Ginger cousin, especially during Summer.     Was full by this time and I could only finish 1 at most!  ~  8.5/10 

 

 

 

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Fresh Fruit Platter to finish -


 

 

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Kam Lai Heen inside Grand Lapa -
Actually thoroughly amazed me.  The Tasting Menu is MOP $728,  some dishes and the recipes were Cantonese in nature but quite inventive -  many of their dishes cannot be found on Hong Kong side.   Can’t wait to be back to try their other dishes.   As a side note,  I have always found a much higher chance of eating good to great Chinese food at Cantonese restaurants in Macau compared to Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

Price:  $300 – $728 Per Person
Food:  ♕♕♕♕ 1/2 - ♕♕♕♕♕

Address: 新口岸友誼大馬路956-1110號澳門金麗華酒店2樓
2nd Floor,  Grand Lapa Hotel,  Macau
Ph: (+853) 28567888

Friday, August 29, 2014

Breakfast at Grand Lapa Hotel, Café Bela Vista - (Macau)

 Breakfast is as included in some of Grand Lapa’s Hotel Packages,  and is served at Café Bela Vista again.  This is served from around 6am to 10am.   Not surprisingly the restaurant which was serving many Portuguese and Malaysian dishes,  now is converted into one which served International food including Western and Chinese – the Fresh Fruit Juicer was a highlight for me,  as someone squeezes out your fresh juice for you unlimited.

 

 

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Fruit Juice Counter -
You can order fresh ones too just a few steps away..

 


 

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Fresh Fruit Juice Machine -
Definitely a Winner here


 

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Some French Toasts,  Sausages,  etc -

 


 

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Another Surprise -
All You Can Eat Bread and Viennoiserie items.   Since Café Bela Vista acts also as the Bakery shop,  it was still nice to see them offering a wide selection of items for patrons. 

 


 

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Cold Food and Cheese Platter -
Pretty decent for a Breakfast period.  

 

 

 

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Lotus Wrapped Glutinous Rice Dumplings -
Tried a little bite in order to judge,  it was not over steamed and fragrant enough.    ~  7/10

 

 

 

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The Congee section sprang another Surprise to me -
I live in Hong Kong and not Macau,  but when I was young this was always how we paired Congee with different Salted Eggs,  Pickles,  Peanuts,  Fried Crullers,   Preserved Olive Leaves,   Fermented Beancurd condiments.    This was more Teochew in style personally but even my Grandma from a totally different region within Canton and my Aunties always ate like this,  so did I.   All it was missing was Dried Pork Floss.     I have always believed that Macau still holds more tradition than food in Hong Kong,  perhaps partially due to it’s more proximity to Canton of China.   But this example of offering shows how much Hong Kong has changed over the past 2-3 decades.   This was so appreciated and ACCURATE traditionally.   - 9/10

 


 

 

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Noodles with Meatballs and Sausages Section -
I never really touch this section so hard to comment,  but some people love this as it’s freshly cooked.







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Fried Eggs on Dark Rye Toasts,  Fried Bacon,  Salad -
I always need eggs for Brekkie,  so I plated my own.   Good options at the buffet selection and the egg yolks were surprisingly huge.   ~  8/10

 

 



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Hams,  Pancake,  Baked Beans,  Hash Browns,  Sausages -
This was more American style and actually I liked the combination too. 
The good thing about a good Breakfast Buffet is that you can play around with the food and create the best package.   The downside is that I only have limited quota space left after waking up ! Smile with tongue out   ~  7.5/10




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The Breakfast Buffet really impressed -
I didn’t expect there to be so many free-flow Pastry items,  Freshly Squeezed juices,  a complete Chinese Congee package,  and also the ability of build up a really decent Fried Eggs and Bacon with Salad dish that could beat most café food in the region.   And then there’s the Hams and Baked Beans options.   If anything – I did wished the desserts section to be better but that’s asking for too much during Breakfast time.


 

Price:  Included in some Hotel Packages
Food:  ♕♕♕♕ 1/2 - ♕♕♕♕♕


Address: 新口岸友誼大馬路956-1110號澳門金麗華酒店2樓
2nd Floor,  Grand Lapa Hotel,  Macau
Ph: (+853) 28567888

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Grand Lapa Hotel - Special Deals until 9th September 2014

 Grand Lapa Hotel in Macau is doing several Special Packages for the coming month.   For $1928 MOP,  which is equal to Hong Kong dollars,  2 persons arriving in will receive a spacious Hotel Room for a night,  plus a bottle of Sparking Wine and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries,  and on top of that either a Free Breakfast or Lunch buffet inclusive.    Also added in are tickets to the Macau Sky Tower within the price!    Alternatively,  a $1728 Family Package can be booked which would include $500 vouchers that can be used in any hotel facilities and restaurants,  with free additional beds and unlimited Movies on TV also included,  plus the same Macau Sky Tower tickets.  A good bargain of a deal.

 

 

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Entrance -
This used to be Mandarin Oriental,  Macau



 

 

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Check-In Area -
Easy process and efficient,  many staffs working here so not much of a queue

 


 

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Wanted to Check the Gym Facilities -
It’s opened until 10pm every night.



 

 

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The Biggest Attraction here for me -
The lovely Swimming Pool area,  which is huge and nicely designed and located at the Resort Side.  It is included in the Hotel Package !!

 

 

 

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Towels for the Pool Users - 

 

 

 

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Inside NAAM Thai Restaurant -
Lovely space and they are about to change to a new Chef and Menu. 
*Watch this space!!

 





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Child Centre -
Looking like an Animal Kingdom here.   Apparently,  hotel users can have up to 2 hours free access for their children included in the overnight package!  After that,  the fee will be charged per hour.


 

 

 

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This is the Spa and Massage Centre -
Sessions here last from around 50 minutes to 90 minutes.   They are charged by the hour here.
Remember to book sessions early,  as they are very popular,  especially with returning Regular Customers..



 

 

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The Private Spa side -

 

 

 



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We are back at our Rooms on the 11th Floor  -
You can view the Swimming Pool and Resort Area from here.  Nice view and no urban jungle from this angle.   Just what I need for relaxing.. 

 

 

 


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Bath Shower and Toilet Space -  Inside the Grand Lapa Hotel rooms


 





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Welcome Fruits and TV -
The TV is not really an LED or LCD variety,  but it’s kind of nostalgic in a way..

 

 




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I always Appreciate a Hotel Room which actually provides a Desk -
One will be surprised,  but half of the hotels I patron don’t provide one for some reason.  Here they do.

 

 

 


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Nice Sofas by the Window -




 


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The Room’s Bed -
Wow it’s huge!   Just the way I like my bed.  
I also love the huge soft pillows and the thick bed covers.   I slept well on the bed and even had a few nice dreams…  









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Another Desk next to the TV -
The hotel rooms are very comfortable for the family,
I really liked the Bed and the Desk facilities here which you can bank on.   The bathrooms had plenty of towels available at any time.    If anything,  we did think the TV was a bit old tech despite it’s large screen size.   The biggest attraction here was their Swimming Pool and Spa Facilities!

 

 

 

Price:  Around $1780 – $1980 per Room per Couple
Hotel:  ♕♕♕♕ 1/2
Spa:  ♕♕♕♕♕


Address: 新口岸友誼大馬路956-1110號澳門金麗華酒店2樓
2nd Floor,  Grand Lapa Hotel,  Macau
Ph: (+853) 28567888

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